Welcome to the first PVC Pre-Order Roundup of 2012! You’d think that companies would want to start out with a bang, but 2012 started off a little slowly. We had no figures last week, and this week there were not a lot of big-deal figures. In fact, it seems like companies had batches of smaller figures saved up for the slow start!
Though a lot of companies did put out figures this week, and we got a few figures that people have been looking forward to like Kamineko and Alter’s Momo, my favorite offering was from a rather surprising company–Wave! So hit the jump and let’s get started!
Alter
Momo Belia Deviluke | 1/8 | ¥7,800 | June
Leah: Momo reminds me of the figures Alter used to produce–cute, simple pink-haired girls from less popular series. In particular, Fauna and Buddy spring to mind, but while Momo is cute I don’t think she has the same level of charm as Alter’s older figures. I think this is a nice figure, but kind of a step back for them.
Stephen: I’m not going to lie, for the longest time I thought this was a Wave Beach Queen when I saw it. She’s cute, and looks well made, but does not look like an Alter figure to me in the slightest.
Amie-Grand
Mouki Bachou | 1/6 | ¥15,200 | May | NSFW
Leah: Ugh, why. I don’t understand why these are made, they look like they are from 10 years ago and the price is outrageous.
Stephen: What is this? I don’t even. I think the only thing sculpted properly is that corn dog.
Chara-Ani
Kanu Unchou | 1/8 | ¥6,800 | April | Exclusive
Leah: Do we need another colorway of this dull figure? Nope, yet here it is!
Stephen: Kanu! Now with orange Voltorbs for breasts instead of the other colors already out there!
Clayz
Nanoha Takamachi | 1/6 | ¥7,500 | April
Punito | 1/8 | ¥12,000 | April
Leah: I really love this Nanoha, but the matching Fate went on sale so I think I will wait on her. And Punito I adore, but the price… why? Can’t this just be a PVC figure?
Stephen: Nanoha is really cute, but as Leah said, not worth her full price. And Punito is adorable, but the choice of material makes her a no go.
Good Smile Company
Ai Nanasaki | Nendoroid | ¥3,500 | May
Leah: LOL pervy Nendo.
Stephen: Ai is so utterly ridiculous that I just need to order her for the photo opportunities.
Griffon
Millhiore F. Biscotti | 1/8 | ¥7,600 | March | Re-release
Leah: While I usually hate re-releases right after a figure has come out, here I think it’s a good move. A lot of people, myself included, skipped Millhi the first time because of her December release date. But now I can get her!
Stephen: Millhiore came out great so I’m glad that now I can pick her up since I passed on her the first time.
Max Factory
Holy Angel Kaminkeo | 1/7 | ¥8,800 | May
Leah: Something in this figure is off, really off. Maybe it’s the face or the stiff skirt, but this figure is just not doing it for me.
Stephen: It feels weird skipping an Oreimo figure, especially one from Max Factory, but the sculpting is way off on her face and her skirt just looks stiff and sloppy. Couple that with an increased price when she should be around 5,000 yen tops and this is most certainly a no go just like Saber Zero.
MegaHouse
Makoto Shishio | 1/8 | ¥7,600 | May
Leah: And the Ruroni Kenshin line continues with… a creepy dude wrapped in bandages! The GEM line s going really well, and I think he is one of the coolest additions to it so far.
Stephen: I’m really glad to see more figures in the Kenshin line from Megahouse and this Makoto is just great!
Phat! Company
Vamp Shogun | figma | ¥3,500 | May
Animal Warriors Set | figma | ¥2,500 | May
Leah: Vamp Shogun is just too weird for me, but I adore the animals. So cute!
Stephen: Vamp and the animals are all just so ridiculous and awesome and are everything you’d want in a small, unique figure from Japan.
Wave
Alba Ruri | 1/10 | ¥3,800 | July
Naruko Anjou | 1/10 | ¥3,800 | July
Leah: First, let’s get Alba out of the way. She is weird and boring. Naruko, on the other hand… HNNNG. She is the best swimsuit figure I have seen in such a long time, and my only regret is that she is not 1/7 or 1/6 scale. What a great sculpt and pose!
Stephen: Wave just keeps crapping out the Beach Queens at an alarming rate, but not every figure can be great, such as Alba here. Naruko looks really great though, but I have no clue who she is or what she’s from so I’m still undecided on her.
Well, that’s it for the first pre-order roundup of 2012! We had a new figure from Alter, some re-colors, a re-release, and yet another overpriced release from a company affiliated with Good Smile Company. Did you start out 2012 adding anything to your orders or did you pass on all of this week’s releases? Let us know with the comments below!
I had high hopes for MF’s Kuroneko statue, but I disappointed. I think the problem is in the design. She is a gothic girl, so this costume is a fail to begin with. I wanted the figma of this version, and I eagerly waited for the PVC but it doesn’t live up to my expectations. Her face is off, and skirt is to stiff.
I’m planning to order BQ Naruko. If nothing better of her shows up at winter wonfes, I will order this version of her. They captured her perfectly. Just watch Anohana, it’s worth it. The whole show is great, and Naruko is my favorite.
I think Alter’s Momo is a bit pricey. I expected her to be around 5500 yen with AmiAmi discount.
Naruko is totally awesome. The customizable features are great, although it’s hard to say which I like most (other than preferring the shirt on). The BQ line just seems to be doing nicer and nicer stuff.
Also liking Momo and Punito is pretty damn adorable.